ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

Melva Houston is a jazz and blues vocalist whose experience includes more than 20 years of live performances across the US and internationally. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Melva began her career with gospel performances. At the age of 16, she moved into R&B as a backup singer for Stax Records where she recorded with R&B greats such as Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Wilson Pickett and Sam and Dave. Melva made her first tour of Europe with the Platters and starred in a Motown Revue.

Once Melva discovered jazz and blues, she found her musical passion and has been performing these styles for most of her career. Her performances include jazz standards and blues featuring songs from the jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Nina Simone. In her concerts, Melva is accompanied by her band of excellent musicians.

Today, Melva tours the US, Spain, Germany, Holland, Switzerland and the Caribbean on her mission to keep jazz alive. In addition to her concerts, Melva also conducts vocal workshops for aspiring singers. By sharing her passion, energy and love of music, Melva has received the adulation of countless audiences around the world.

From first to last a superb CD. Melva is a wonderful performer (a knockout performance on the title tune and on "It Might as Well be Spring") and all of the other musicians are first rate. Swings hard.

Internationally-known and loved jazz singer, Melva Houston truly dazzles on Black Coffee, transfixing her listeners with her smokin’ voice, perfectly suited for bluesy R&B and soul. Coloring these jazzy numbers with some real no-nonsense attitude and with a powerhouse combo backing her up, this disc ranges from a variety of sauntering ballads to swinging shakers. Having recorded with R&B greats such as Isaace Hayes, Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas and Wilson Pickett at the fresh age of 16, Houston again reminds her fans why she’s such a force to be reckoned with. Without a doubt, this is the jazz pick of the month.

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